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Friday 27 April 2012
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| PACE seeks global tax transparency and stronger policies on tax havens |
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| [27/04/2012] PACE has demanded a series of steps to end what it calls “massive tax avoidance, evasion and fraud” facilitated by secrecy jurisdictions, tax havens and offshore financial centres. Adopting a resolution based on a report by Dirk van der Maelen (Belgium, SOC), the parliamentarians said tackling global distortions due to harmful or predatory tax practices was “a moral duty” because they drain public finances and cause serious harm to the public interest. (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| Syria: PACE welcomes the emergence of a common position within the international community |
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 [26/04/2012] Following an urgent debate on the situation in Syria, PACE firmly condemned the gross human rights violations committed by Syrian military and security forces. It also expressed regret at the continuing violations of the ceasefire implemented under Kofi Annan's peace plan and the increasing number of deaths. At the same time the Assembly expressed satisfaction that a “common position is gradually emerging” within the international community. (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| Displaced persons in North Caucasus: stronger efforts needed to ensure durable solutions |
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 [26/04/2012] The efforts undertaken by the Russian authorities have improved the lives of a substantial number of displaced persons, but an important number still do not fully enjoy their rights after up to twenty years in displacement, the Assembly underlined today... (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| Safeguarding decent pensions for all |
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 [27/04/2012] In order to safeguard decent pensions for all, and to address the dual challenge of ageing of the population and the current economic crisis, the PACE calls on member states to “design national pension systems based on several pillars and a ‘mix’ of sources of pension income”. The PACE also called on member states to “find appropriate solutions for people with periods in which they have made no pension contributions” and for those who are less able to prepare for their retirement. (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| Reforming the European Court is now ‘the responsibility of all of us’ |
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 [26/04/2012] It is now up to all players – the European Court of Human Rights, national governments, the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly – to ensure that the Brighton Declaration is put into effect, said Hans Franken (Netherlands, EPP/CD), opening a current affairs debate today on the future of the Court. (more..) |
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| Election observation |
| PACE to observe the parliamentary elections in Armenia |
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 [27/04/2012] A 24-member PACE delegation led by Baroness Nicholson (United Kingdom, ALDE), will travel to Armenia from 4 to 7 May to observe the parliamentary elections alongside observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the European Parliament and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE. (more..) |
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| Election observation |
| PACE delegation to observe parliamentary and presidential elections in Serbia |
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 [27/04/2012] A 20-member PACE delegation, led by Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), will visit Serbia from 4 to 7 May 2012 to observe the parliamentary and presidential elections alongside observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE. (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| Round table on media freedom on the Internet |
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 [27/04/2012] The PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media organised yesterday a round table on Internet freedom with the British Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. Participants agreed that Internet freedom was increasingly at risk, both by restrictive legislation in some countries as well as by some practices of Internet companies. (more..) |
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Video: Kirsty Hughes, Chief Executive, Index on Censorship, London |
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Video: William Echikson, Head of Free Expression, Google Europe |
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Video: Simon Milner, Director of Policy, Facebook UK |
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Video: Felix Treguer, Director of Institutional and Legal Affairs, La Quadrature du Net, Paris | |
| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| PACE rapporteur welcomes abolition of the death penalty in Connecticut |
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 [26/04/2012] “I want to congratulate the Governor of the State of Connecticut, who has signed a law abolishing the death penalty for future sentences,” said Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD), the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on abolition of the death penalty. “Connecticut joins a growing number of US states that have taken this step, adding to the momentum for a broader abolition. (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| European Best Practice Award for Coastal Towns: Winners announced |
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 [26/04/2012] President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Jean-Claude Mignon and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Keith Whitmore announced today the results of the Best Practice Award Programme for European Coastal Towns, at a ceremony during the Parliamentary Assembly session in Strasbourg. (more..) |
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| Spring session: 23-27 April 2012 |
| Corciano (Italy) and Sighisoara (Romania) win the 2012 Europe Prize |
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| [26/04/2012] The 2012 Europe Prize has been awarded to the towns of Corciano (Italy) and Sighisoara (Romania). This decision was taken unanimously by the PACE Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development at its April plenary session in Strasbourg. (more..) |
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